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Microsoft 365 bundles Windows 10, Office and mobility features

First, there was Windows. Then, there was Office and Office 365. Now the two have been combined into a new product: Microsoft 365, a new way for businesses to subscribe to both Windows 10 and Office.

Announced at the Microsoft Inspire conference, Microsoft 365 will be launched in two versions: Enterprise and Business. Both versions bundle Windows, Office and the Enterprise Mobility + Security products, with one of the aims being to provide more flexibility to users.

The Enterprise edition bundles the Enterprise editions of all three products, and is designed for large organisations. The Business edition is aimed at SMBs with up to 300 users; it combines Office 365 Business Premium with security and management features from Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security, as well as a central console for device and user management.

Microsoft has not shared pricing for the Enterprise version yet, although has said that it will be launched on the 1st August. A public preview of the Business edition will be launched on the 2nd August, and it will be available worldwide this autumn for $20 per user, per month.

Three tailored applications have been developed for Office 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business: Microsoft Listings (an email marketing service); Microsoft Connections (a way to publish business information on specific sites; and Microsoft Invoicing (a way to create and deliver invoices).

In addition to the new bundles, Microsoft announced a new cloud development with its launch partners Dell EMC, HPE and Lenovo, called Microsoft Azure Stack. This is an extension of Azure that can be used by businesses to host their own hybrid cloud. The launch partners are all creating integrated systems to run the Stack and host apps and services; the first systems will begin to be shipped in September.